When I was younger I always believed that everything that happened to me,good, bad or indifferent was planned by a greater being & no matter what(Maybe thats my Irish Catholic upbringing kcking in), we could not change it as it was our plan, one made for us long before we were even conceived....isn't it funny how to this day we think the same way...my question is.....Do you believe that this is truly the case, that we cannot change our destiny or change our futures.....is it mapped out for us in the greater footprint of life....when things go so so wrong for us, should we sit back and tell ourselves"That has happened for a reason so therefore it has to be right for us"
Susan

When things go wrong I find the happy and positive side to them! I don't rely on something I am unsure of to get me through! I AM the one who gets me through. I get my children through by teaching them to be strong and find the good in everything or as much as possible and even when it's not a good moment to find what is good about that event. You may have a really bad day, but someone great may have talked to you that day. You may have lost someone you loved, but you are better for ever knowing them, having them in your life and all the emotions (good and bad) you were blessed to experience because of them. Nothing is ever really bad, it's just a small brick in the road you have to step to the side of or walk over to keep on going. It's only huge when you make it that way. When I get old I won't remember anything but the love of those in my life and I met along the way. Nothing else will matter. The love I gave my children, the love I shared with others, the man who blessed me by breaking my heart and showing me I truly did love and know what it was and the man I fell even deeper in love with later and stayed with for the rest of my life. All those things are what are important. That's what makes a great life...when YOU allow yourself to see the good in things, no matter how hard they get and that's how you get through it all. I don't ever wait for a miracle...I make them happen on my own through my own strengths within. That's where the faith comes in and gives strength, hope and perserverance...

I'm not sure If I believe in a pre ordained destiny. To me it implies an endpoint in our journey. One that no matter how we navigate our journey, the endpoint is fixed. I do believe there are things beyond our control, sh*t happens. Some we create, some things we don't. Faith alone is too passive, and can cultivate resignation and stagnation. We need to be actively engaged in creating our experiences, and how we respond to unplanned circumstances.

I may be totaly wrong , and nothing new there, but I tend to look at life slightly differently. As a Pagan I know I am in charge of my life, and anything that happens to me happens because I either let it, or do not put any effort into making it not happen. The best way I heard someone put it is 'I am the captain of my ship, I go where I will, as long as the tides and wind let me'.
There are some things we just cannot escape, and others we can steer to but whatever each is responsible for what they will or will not do.

Hi...sorta new to Forumland. Used to Blogville! ha ha
To answer your question. I do believe God has a unique and specific plan, a future and a hope for us individually. The hard part is trusting, seeking and listening to Him to find out what that perfect plan is. I know I get myself in the way all of the time with impatience. I believe we were designed with specific and unique gifts and talents and that plan includes how we are to use those gifts and talents along our journey in life. Again, do we choose to seek how to best use them or even recognize we have them? The wild card is free will or what some call "making our own destiny." We do this daily, and there are always positive and negative consquences with choices. Good question. Faith is what we hope for up ahead though we can't yet see it. Heb 11:1 if you are a Bible reader.

I am Irish Catholic too so I know exactly what you're talking about (not that we have that market!).

I don't think this is about faith as much as making one's own path and journey. I too believe that we create - and can change - our "destiny". It comes with every choice made every day. There is a reason for everything, the good and the bad. With both comes the opportunity to learn lessons. We are destined to stay the same only if we do not take the time to learn from mistakes, poor choices, etc. Breaking away from someone else's imprint of who you are and what your "destiny" can be difficult but has much reward. I wish you well.

I believe we create our own destiny , our own future , nothing happens just like this . My life is so complicated right now , but i made it the way it is , i
m strong and i can change it if i want but still i prefer to live it the way it is , i always liked complicated things :)

stitch1971 write: When I was younger I always believed that everything that happened to me,good, bad or indifferent was planned by a greater being & no matter what(Maybe thats my Irish Catholic upbringing kcking in), we could not change it as it was our plan, one made for us long before we were even conceived....isn't it funny how to this day we think the same way...my question is.....Do you believe that this is truly the case, that we cannot change our destiny or change our futures.....is it mapped out for us in the greater footprint of life....when things go so so wrong for us, should we sit back and tell ourselves"That has happened for a reason so therefore it has to be right for us" Susan

I believe in "that has happened for a reason" but not that its necessarily right for us... nothing is pre-ordained, our "destiny". I believe in cause and effect and that you can have a great influence on your own and others lives... how much depends on you yourself. You may not be able to change the world, but with determination and drive you can change your own lttle part of it in almost any way you wish.